Mourners embrace as they arrive for the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012.

Mourners embrace as they arrive for the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012.

Mourners embrace as they arrive for the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012.

Mourners embrace as they arrive for the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012.

A contingent of motorcycle police from a variety of towns arrive for the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. less

A contingent of motorcycle police from a variety of towns arrive for the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on ... more

Motorcycle police from Stamford arrive for the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. less

Motorcycle police from Stamford arrive for the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, ... more

Glenn Wilson, of Equity One, places a nametag onto a green ribbon with a victim's name on it, after workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company, put the ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. The workers also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison Wyatt, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

Glenn Wilson, of Equity One, places a nametag onto a green ribbon with a victim's name on it, after workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company, put the ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green ... more

Marc Angarano, of Brickman Group, which is a national landscaping company, places a nametag onto a green ribbon with a victim's name on it, after they put the ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. The workers also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison Wyatt, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

Marc Angarano, of Brickman Group, which is a national landscaping company, places a nametag onto a green ribbon with a victim's name on it, after they put the ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property ... more

A large green ribbon cutout was placed on the Southbury Green gazebo, placed by workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company. They also put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. They also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison Wyatt, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

A large green ribbon cutout was placed on the Southbury Green gazebo, placed by workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company. They also put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green ... more

Marc Angarano, left, and Adam Zontok, both from Brickman Group, which is a national landscaping company, places a nametag onto a green ribbon with a Allison Wyatt's name on it, after they put the ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. The workers also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison Wyatt, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

Marc Angarano, left, and Adam Zontok, both from Brickman Group, which is a national landscaping company, places a nametag onto a green ribbon with a Allison Wyatt's name on it, after they put the ribbons on 26 ... more

A tag reads the name of Allison Wyatt, put there by workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company, put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. They also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison's, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

A tag reads the name of Allison Wyatt, put there by workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company, put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. ... more

A woman jogs along Main Street after workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company, put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. They also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison Wyatt, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

A woman jogs along Main Street after workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company, put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday ... more

Workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company, put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. They also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison Wyatt, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

Workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company, put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were ... more

A pedestrian snaps pictures of ribbons placed on the Southbury Green by workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company. The green ribbons were placed on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. They also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison Wyatt, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

A pedestrian snaps pictures of ribbons placed on the Southbury Green by workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company. The green ribbons were placed on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along ... more

A large green ribbon cutout adorns the Southbury Green gazebo, placed by workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company. They also put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along Main Street in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. The ribbons were placed in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School his past Friday. They also placed a tag on each ribbon with a victim's name, including Allison Wyatt, whose funeral was taking place down the street. less

A large green ribbon cutout adorns the Southbury Green gazebo, placed by workers from Brickman Group, a national landscaping company. They also put up green ribbons on 26 trees on Southbury Green property along ... more

A Connecticut State police officer stands guard during the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday December 20, 2012. less

A Connecticut State police officer stands guard during the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Allison Wyatt which was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Southbury Conn. on Thursday ... more

This photo provided by the Wyatt family shows Allison Wyatt. Wyatt, 6, was killed Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, when a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Conn., killing 26 children and adults at the school. less

This photo provided by the Wyatt family shows Allison Wyatt. Wyatt, 6, was killed Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, when a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Conn., killing 26 children and ... more

Photo: Uncredited, AP Photo/Family Photo Via Benjam

Image 27 of 27

A 'fortunate group' to know 'Allie'

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Allison "Allie" Wyatt was a vibrant, funny 6-year-old girl. She was a budding artist who covered her family's home in her paintings and drawings. She was the kind of child who smiled easily and wouldn't hesitate to share her Goldfish crackers with a stranger. That how Allie, one of 20 children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, was remembered at her funeral at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury.

"You are a very fortunate group," said the Rev. Walter L. Pitman, who led the service. "At some point over the past six years, Allie Wyatt got in your way and you are better for it."

No family or friends spoke at the service, attended by several hundred people. It was only Pitman, who is actually a senior pastor at another church in Southbury.

He said he didn't know the Wyatt family before last week's tragedy, but has spent some time over the past few days getting to know them and their beloved Allie.

"She was goofy," Pitman said. "She was funny. She had her two grandfathers wrapped around her finger and she knew it."

Allie loved to read, often digging through bags of books. She loved math. "That alone makes her a saint," he said.

Pitman said the little girl wanted to be a teacher and worked toward that goal by teaching her sister Lauren to ride the bus. She was, like most children, naturally inquisitive.

"There wasn't a simple answer for Ally," Pitman said. "You couldn't just answer a question with `because.' The next words out of her mouth would be `Why?'

She was also naturally kind, the sort of kids who could coerce a total stranger to take one of her Goldfish crackers with a simple smile. "Allie didn't need to prompted to be thoughtful and nice," Pitman said.

Many of the mourners filing into the church wore green ribbons, which have become a symbol of support for the victims. Not far from the church, a large green ribbon was hung on a gazebo, and trees was adorned with green ribbons as well.

Near the end of his service, Pitman encouraged all those present to learn from Allie's kindness and exuberance. "Live your life the way she lived hers," he said. "Be funny. Be goofy. Be silly. Greet each day with fun and a sense of adventure. And, whenever possible, share your Goldfish with a stranger."